MASSACHUSETTS PARTNERSHIP FOR TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT

The Massachusetts Partnership for Transition to Employment (MPTE) is a five-year project to improve labor market participation for youth and young adults served by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The project is funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

DDS and its MPTE partners will implement evidence-based predictors of post-school success for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). The project’s steering committee will be comprised of DDS, the MA Rehabilitation Commission, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Institute for Community Inclusion, Mass Advocates Standing Strong, The Arc of MA, and the MA Developmental Disabilities Council. The MPTE also will engage a stakeholder consortium including self-advocates and family members.

The MPTE will address four key predictors of post-school employment:

1. Developing collaborative networks for student support
2. Accessing work experiences that reflect those typical of youth and young adults without disabilities
3. Supporting parental involvement and expectations for competitive integrated employment
4. Building self-determination and independent living skills

To ensure a sustainable impact, the MTPE will focus on existing service systems. The project will develop guidance, policy recommendations, tools for collaboration, quality indicators and guidelines for practice, and tools and resources to address the predictors. Anticipated outcomes include increases in the following:

• The number of individuals with ID/DD who leave school and enter competitive integrated employment.
• The number of youth and young adults with ID/DD using the public vocational rehabilitation and workforce development systems.
• The ability of youth and young adults with ID/DD and their families to easily access quality employment services and supports.
• Advocacy and support for competitive integrated employment by youth and young adults with ID/DD and their families.

CONTACT INFORMATION

David Hoff
Program Director
Institute for Community Inclusion
School for Global Inclusion and Social Development, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Telephone: 617-287-4308
Email: david.hoff@umb.edu

Margaret Van Gelder
Director of Employment and Family Support
Department of Developmental Services
Telephone: (617) 624-7764
Email: margaret.van.gelder@state.ma.us

Website
employmentfirstma.org/mpte/

Resources

1. MA Employment First Policy – Plain Language
2. Massachusetts Interagency Transition Teams Database
3. Raising Expectations for Better Futures – Family Training Series